What “He Descended into Hell” Means

What “He Descended into Hell” Means

Full Question The Apostle’s Creed says Jesus “was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell and rose again.” How could the Son of God go into hell? Why did he go there? Answer Jesus’ descent into hell means that Jesus “sojourned in the realm of the...
Is the Intent to Conceive Necessary?

Is the Intent to Conceive Necessary?

Full Question Did the Catholic Church ever teach that sex was to be performed only to have children? Answer It has always been a part of the Church’s teaching that procreation and the rearing of children is the primary end of sex, the unitive aspect being a secondary...
The Soul and the Self in the Afterlife

The Soul and the Self in the Afterlife

Full Question What is the relationship between the soul and the self with regard to the afterlife? Answer According to St. Thomas Aquinas, the soul is the locus of and explanation for our personal identity that spans life, death, and the afterlife. Our human...